Space Force Association shows first NSpC pilot to Space Force leaders

The Space Force Association and its National Spacepower Center consortium briefed senior U.S. Space Force leaders on a first integrated pilot demonstration on July 21 in Arlington, Virginia. The display showed how industry tools can combine to turn space scenarios into mission consequences for decision-makers, with more scenarios and wider participation planned.

Why it matters: - The National Spacepower Center is meant to help military and civilian leaders understand space as an operational domain, not just a technical one. - The pilot demonstration showed how commercial data, simulation, command-and-control software, and visualization tools can be combined to support decisions on strategy, resourcing, and force development. - The effort responds to Gen. B. Chance Saltzman’s push for better understanding of the realities of space warfare and space superiority.

What happened: - The Space Force Association announced the initial industry consortium supporting its National Spacepower Center and said the group successfully presented its first integrated pilot demonstration to senior U.S. Space Force leaders. - The demonstration took place July 21, 2026, at Sedaro’s offices in Arlington, Virginia. - Gen. Saltzman and Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess attended the demonstration. - Laura Brent and Kathryn Kolbe also participated in the session. - The consortium included Redwire, COMSPOC, Sedaro, OpenC3, and TigerVision.

The details: - The consortium built and integrated the pilot in less than four months using pooled capabilities and internal research and development resources. - The notional scenario was a Space Dogfighting vignette developed in response to a challenge from Saltzman. - The environment connected orbital data, physics-based simulation, command-and-control software, engineering models, and immersive visualization in one setting. - The demonstration used commercial orbital data and maneuver analysis from COMSPOC. - Sedaro provided physics-based simulation, scenario integration, analytics, and visualization. - Redwire contributed spacecraft engineering models. - OpenC3 supplied COSMOS command-and-control software. - TigerVision provided immersive visualization technology. - The vignette depicted a notional adversary spacecraft moving close to a U.S. missile-warning and missile-tracking asset. - The scenario showed how interference with a space system could affect support to terrestrial military operations. - The scenario also illustrated how orbital geometry, timing, and resource constraints shape response options. - SFA announced the National Spacepower Center at its Spacepower Conference in December 2025. - SFA established the center to help government, military, industry, and partner-nation leaders better understand the space domain, space warfare, and the operational realities behind U.S. national security. - The Space Force Association is a professional organization that supports the U.S. Space Force and advances U.S. and Allied spacepower through advocacy, education, and collaboration.

Between the lines: - The pilot was less about showing a finished product and more about proving that a cross-company environment can make complex space operations understandable at the leadership level. - The feedback from senior leaders suggests the NSpC may become a tool for education, acquisition advocacy, mission analysis, experimentation, and force development. - The emphasis on a notional scenario signals an early-stage effort focused on decision support and concept exploration rather than operational deployment.

What's next: - SFA and the consortium plan to refine the environment using feedback from the Space Force leaders. - The group will develop additional scenarios and expand industry participation. - Future demonstrations will be tailored to different audiences and needs. - Organizations interested in supporting the National Spacepower Center or contributing capabilities can contact nspc@ussfa.org. - The consortium will keep building on the initial demonstration as it grows the center around the mission.

The bottom line: - The first NSpC pilot gave Space Force leaders a working look at how industry-built space mission tools could be fused into a single decision aid, with broader development now underway.